AOL Instant Messaging question

[allie&mattsmom]

Hi everyone. My 11 yr old daughter im's with several buddies who she goes to school with. I know everyone on her buddy list and I'm always close by when she's chatting. A couple of nights ago she apparently had not signed off and I got on the computer and there was a message saying ""bloodyflip" has sent you a message". I called her in and asked her who this was. She had no idea. So I accepted the message not saying I was her mom and I asked who he/she was. They were already logged off. Just now I got back on and the same thing. So I accept it and want to know who they are. They just responded "hu r u and then i'll tell". I said I don't chat with people I don't know and logged off. I don't know how this works. Can people track you down even though you're not on their buddy list? How did he get DD's user name? Perfect opportunity for DH & I to stress the importance of how scary the internet is and that you never give out personal info or chat with anyone you don't know, etc. My DD is frightened and it doesn't help that his user name is kindof scary. If anyone can give me any info about this I sure would appreciate it. TIA.

 

[MBeds]

My daughter is 10 and she is only contacted by the people who are on her list - that list has to be cleared by me...
No one on the outside can see she is online...
Check the settings...you can adjust from there...
Hope this helps...

 

[llp479]

Perhaps the person was looking for someone with a similar screen name. DH had people IM him all the time, but the screen name they wanted was actually a zero, not an O.

I think you can set up most messaging sites so only people on the buddy list can IM.

 

[sandyhund]

Another possibility is that it could have been someone playing a joke on her. There's this webiste where you can type in someone's AIM screenname and then the website will talk to that person, trying to trick them into saying something or whatever. Then the person who played the trick gets a copy of the conversation to see how the person reacted or responded.

Someone did it to me and I got creeped out so I blocked the person, but then I realized it was one of my friends playing a joke on me.

Here's the link: http://www.aimprank.com/

Also remember you can always block screennames and you can also set it up so that only people you have on your buddylist can send you messages. This is a good feature for younger kids.

 

[Shugardrawers]

I have had that happen a few times. I personally think it's a sales pitch. I don't know for sure, I just decline the invitation.

 

[MsLeFever]

I frequently get inappropriate IM requests - usually with a string of numbers in the name - I just block them.

 

[debbiedoo]

You can go into AIM preferences and set them --

allowing only your friends to see you
and ignore specific users

I would recommend doing this

 

[Shugardrawers]

You can go into AIM preferences and set them --

allowing only your friends to see you
and ignore pacific users

I would recommend doing this

What's a pacific user???

 

[LadyyRedd]

What's a pacific user???

I think that person meant "specific" users.

Kimya

 

[gate_pourri]

turn her privacy settings on:

- Go to Edit/Setting
- Privacy
- Then click: Who can contact me:
'Allow only users on my buddy list'

 

[Shugardrawers]

I think that person meant "specific" users.

Kimya

Ohhh, carry on.

 

[illini]

I think that person meant "specific" users.

Kimya

I am cracking up!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

What's a pacific user???

I'm from Oregon, but now living in Maryland, so am I a Pacific or an Atlantic user?

 

[sandyhund]

I am cracking up!!

that is so funny!

 

[debbiedoo]

What's a pacific user???

yikes!! I was having a long day --- bad sinus day could not think straight

 

[Shugardrawers]

I'm from Oregon, but now living in Maryland, so am I a Pacific or an Atlantic user?

That makes you a transplanted pacific user.
BTW I am originally from Yakima, WA. Where in OR are you from?